UEFA fines Zenit after fans burn German flag banner at Dortmund

NYON, Switzerland (AP) Zenit St. Petersburg has been fined 15,000 euros ($20,500) by UEFA after its fans burned a German flag banner at a Champions League match against Borussia Dortmund.

UEFA says it charged Zenit for ”improper conduct of supporters” and lighting fireworks.

Russian fans were pictured burning the Dortmund fans’ banner – made from a black, red and gold Germany flag – during Zenit’s 2-1 win on March 19. Dortmund advanced to the quarterfinals 5-4 on aggregate.

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UEFA earlier closed a section of Zenit’s stadium for the first leg as punishment for fans displaying a racist banner during a group-stage match against Austria Vienna.

Zenit, runner-up in the Russian league, enters next season’s Champions League in the third qualifying round.